Authors’ Open House Christmas Edition: Melissa Tagg

So far this week, we’ve welcomed Angela Ruth Strong and Carrie Turansky to the Authors’ Open House: Christmas Edition. Let’s keep going! It’s my pleasure to welcome today sweet Melissa Tagg. Melissa joined us for the first AOH back in August. I’ve been a fan of Melissa’s writing for a while now and sit on pins and needles waiting for the next release to come out. Lucky me, the next one isn’t only new but CHRISTMAS themed! Let’s see what she has to share with us this time. 

Christmas Mess-Ups

The following events may or may not have happened in my life (by which I mean, they totally did):

…an entire kitchen filling with smoke due to burning peanut brittle which I stirred absently while my nose was buried in a Nancy Drew novel.

…sparks in the microwave due to me heating a couple Pop-Tarts still in the aluminum wrapper!

…an entire pitcher of orange juice spilling over a full batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

…the SAME COOKIES into which I accidentally put four tablespoons instead of four teaspoons of salt.

…a legit fire with flames and everything due to me putting a metal travel mug into the microwave.

Um. Yes. That whole baking and cooking thing? We’ve got a bit of a bumpy relationship.

Which is why it’s kinda funny I decided to stick a couple bakers into my new Christmas novella, One Enchanted Eve. I guess I figure if nothing else, I can give my fake people all the talents I wish I had in real life. LOL!

To be fair to myself, when I’m actually paying attention to what I’m doing and following a recipe, probably eight times out of ten I can actually pull off a casserole or soup or dessert. And I have even been told I make the best chocolate chip cookies ever…that is, when I’m not overdoing the salt or spilling juice on them.

But all this to say, Christmas baking is not really my forte. Which is why I looooove people who make Christmas treats for me.

However, there is at least one Christmas recipe I seem to be incapable of messing up! My mom introduced me to this fudge recipe, and I’m serious, it is the easiest thing ever…possibly impossible to ruin. So I thought I’d share it today just in case anyone else—like me—tends to be slightly kitchen-challenged.

The Easiest Fudge Recipe Ever!

1. Buy a container of frosting—chocolate or fudge flavored—and a jar of peanut butter. Creamy or crunchy, your choice.
2. Soften them both just a bit in the microwave. (But not in a metal dish because trust me, once you’ve started a microwave fire, no one will ever let you forget it and they will nickname you Sparky!)
3. Stir them together by hand and then spread in a greased pan (whatever size you want, depending on how thick you like your fudge).
4. Stick it in the fridge…and ta-da! You’re done! Like…for real. That’s it!

I promise, you just can’t mess this thing up!

Do you know what I can’t help thinking, though? For all the kitchen disasters I’ve caused in my life—the ruined recipes and microwave fires—my family and friends …they all seem to still accept me. And love me. And they even entrust me with meal items now and then.

And it reminds me of God. I mess up. So often. Like, kind of ridiculously often, really. I mean, I’m in my 30s. Shouldn’t I get it together one of these days?

But no matter how I often misstep, God still accepts me. Still loves me. And the kicker I really can’t get over: he continues to entrust me with a calling…to tell stories, to love people, to serve him.

The truth is, I—we—can never out-disaster God’s grace or his ability to use us, messes and all.

And that’s an amazing gift!

About Melissa Tagg

Melissa Tagg is a former reporter, current nonprofit grant writer and total Iowa girl. She writes romantic comedies in the banter-filled style of her favorite 1930s and 40s classic films. The second book in her popular Walker Family series, Like Never Before, was named by Publishers Weekly to their spring 2016 “Religion and Spirituality” Top 10 list. When she’s not writing she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever, watching old movies, and daydreaming about her next book. Melissa loves connecting with readers at www.melissatagg.com and on Facebook and Instagram. Find One Enchanted Eve, and all of Melissa’s other books, through all major booksellers.